It’s no easy task closing out a weekend-long festival, but tonight Kendrick Lamar proved why his name continues to be so highly regarded in hip-hop circles. Sure, he’s a profound storyteller, but that’s something we can take for granted; the true strength of Lamar’s set came from its crossover appeal. Kendrick Lamar was the only hip-hop artist to make use of a live band this weekend, guitar-shredding solos included, and his pacing across the stage and within his set list was expertly executed. Performing in front of a video triptych with scenes of his Compton hometown drawing the crowd in, Lamar blazed through a surprising number of hits for a recording career that’s relatively young. Whether prompted to light up their cell phones, or celebrated for lighting up something else, Lamar had Chicago in the palm of his hand, with festival-goer’s arms held high in response. Like he says, “Kendrick have a dream.” Even if this isn’t the exact dream he’s talking about, it has to come close. (Kenneth Preski)
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